Atalanta

Atalanta's tale may be known only to a small tribe of centaurs, but it is already a legend. Upon the death of her parents, Lysander and Pelagia, when Atalanta was a mere eight years of age, she found herself orphaned in the dark jungles of Saria.

Atalanta taught herself to survive when she should have been prey for the island's beasts, becoming the lone huntress, a predator feared even by the feral satyrs.

When a colony of Centaurs arrived on the island, she was accepted into their tribe and has since immersed herself in their culture, earned their trust, and was soon adopted by the centaur leader, Lykas, almost a full 12 years after her parents deaths. By the time Jason arrives, she is a valued member of the tribe, one of its preeminent trackers and hunters. She joins Jason to save her people, and later, to see the world beyond her own island.

Atalanta brings her bow to the Argonauts. More than just a good shot, Atalanta's time in the wild has given her unparalleled speed and the ability to respond quickly to any threat. She can shoot the dew off a leaf, pin an armored man to a tree, fill the skies with arrows, and decimate her foes before they even know what hit them. As a child her father taught her poisons and alchemy which she employs on her arrows to great effect.

Atalanta was abandoned at birth by Schoeneus, but true to being the daughter of a bear, she endured. She is portrayed very much like her patron god, Artemis, with the guarding of her virginity and supreme hunting skills such as those portrayed in the tale of the Calydonian boar hunt. In many instances she is also tied in to the Argonauts, although it is uncertain as to whether she was one.

Unwilling to take any man as her husband unless he can best her, she is challenged time and again to foot races. Eventually one suitor, Meilanion, outfoxes Atalanta. Begging for help from Aphrodite, he received a gift of magical golden apples which were used to distract Atalanta during the race so he could defeat her.

In his triumphant glory he forgot to thank Aphrodite for helping him beat Atalanta and thus enabling him to take her as his wife. Aphrodite became enraged.

Once Meilanion and Atalanta were within the sacred grounds of Zeus's temple Aphrodite summoned forth all of the lust the two were capable of. Zeus, of course, was quite disgusted at the fornication taking place within his temple and turned Atalanta and Meilanion into lions as punishment.